NOVEMBER 2020 | ISSUE 131
Here's the Latest

For those of you who closely follow the local real estate market, we just wanted to keep you up to date on the real estate market for Gulf Front, Gulf View, and other foreclosures in our area that you can always find on our website. Click the links below to view our updated list of foreclosures. Not looking for a foreclosure? Feel free to create a customized search, or browse our site to view all properties that are currently on the market.


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Time to List?
Historically, fall is not the best time to list a property, but just like 2020 is not like any other year—real estate markets are not like any other year. Thinking about selling this fall? It just might be a great time! Based on the current market here on the Emerald Coast as well as across most of America, selling could be a lucrative option for property owners.

Buyers are actively looking right now. ShowingTime, a real estate showing software, provides market statistics. A recent report shows that buyer traffic jumped 60.7% compared to this time last year. That is a stunning increase! These buyers are not just looking. They are ready and able to buy—especially with interest rates vacillating at an all-time-low. Locally, we have had bidding wars competing for some properties.

That fact brings us to the next point: lack of inventory. In the most recent Existing Home Sales Report, the National Association of Realtors reported that inventory was down 18.6% year-over-year. Simply put, there are more buyers than sellers.  

Across the country and in varying degrees, for months Americans have had to seclude themselves in their homes and limit activities. The pandemic is not over, but many people have evolving mindsets. Nesting is taking on new meaning in 2020. Some owners are improving their home spaces; some are looking for a change, for a move.

Are you happy with your home? Are you looking for a change? Now is an excellent time to discover what your primary home, second home, or investment property might be worth. Just let us know. Our motto: Making Real Estate Your Best Investment!
This third floor unit at Lasata is beautiful. An open floor plan overlooks the natural preserves, and peaceful bay views are enjoyed from the spacious balcony. Furnishings and dĂ©cor exude a sophisticated island living feel – perfect for a getaway or an investment property. Lasata owners have access to the private ''Solstice Club'' with a beautiful deck for relaxing and enjoying sunsets, barbecue facilities, kitchen & gathering area, and large screened porch. Not to mention all the shopping, restaurants, and entertainment in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Endless Sandestin amenities include 4 championship golf courses, tennis center, full-service marina, miles of biking/jogging trails, access to the sugar white beaches, and more. Paradise!
The Difference Between Gratitude and Thankfulness
This time of year can give us that warm, fuzzy feeling when we spend time feeling thankful for the things our lives include. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word thankful as “pleased and relieved.” Both of those are great feelings. Everyone wants to be pleased and relieved. But that’s just it; they’re just feelings, and feelings fade.

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word grateful as “showing an appreciation of kindness.” This is where the difference lies; being thankful is a feeling, and being grateful is an action.

Gratitude is more than just the feeling of thankfulness. Being thankful is the first step, and we have to have that initial feeling to build upon. We build upon it by redirecting our focus into making gratefulness an intrinsic part of our lives 365 days a year. Gratitude requires us to stay alert of the role of others in our lives. This is different from the fleeting nature of the act of a mere ‘thank you’ or feeling thankful one day of the year. Through gratitude, we get to make a sense of our lives and learn to credit our loved ones with the appreciation they deserve.

The key is keeping gratitude at the forefront of our lives. It’s not just thinking about how thankful we are to have all that we have. It’s about living out that gratitude through the simple things we do every day. Gratitude is the manifestation of love, devotion and commitment towards those who mean the most to you. It encompasses shared experiences, shared love and an understanding that the universe has conspired to keep us happy, and help us understand how connected we are to others.

As we head into that special time in November, start a Gratitude Journal – the practice of jotting down, each day, things that we are grateful for that allow us to become more present and aware – and open your mind up to just how helpful this simple practice may be on the path toward embracing your thankfulness.